KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 -- Civil society groups have launched the "Maaf Zahir Batin 365 (#MZB365)" campaign to urge Malaysians towards reconciliation, amid worsening communal provocation in the country.

The campaign leans on a tradition from Hari Raya Aidilfitri next week, when Muslims would exchange greetings of "Maaf Zahir Batin", meaning "Please forgive my wrongs, both thoughts and deeds", with the "365" indicating it will run for a year rather than just the month of Syawal.

Seeing a trend of demagoguery that was paralysing countries and destroying communities across the world, the groups said it was crucial for Malaysia to avoid the same trajectory, and that a shared sense of forgiveness was foundational to this.

According to Projek ...